Simple negations let us express “no” or “none” in a clear and natural way. In English, the most basic negations are not, never, and nobody. Each one is used in different situations:
- not makes verbs or other words negative
- never means “not ever” (zero times)
- nobody means “no person” (no one at all)
We add not by using auxiliary verbs like do, does, did, is, are, was, were, etc. Never and nobody are negative words that go directly into the sentence.
Here are some simple examples:
| Type | English | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| not (with do not) | I do not like pizza. | I don’t like pizza. |
| not (with is not) | He is not here. | He’s not here. |
| never | She never eats meat. | She doesn’t ever eat meat. |
| nobody | Nobody knows the answer. | No one knows the answer. |
Using these words, you can say all sorts of negative ideas in English. Let’s look at more examples and patterns.
Translate into English: Él nunca come carne.
He never eats meat.
The correct translation uses 'never' to indicate that he does not eat meat at any time.
When should you use 'never' in a sentence?
Use 'never' to mean 'not ever' or 'zero times'.
'Never' is used to express that something does not happen at any time, i.e., zero times.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- Type: not (with do not)
- Meaning: I don’t like pizza.
- English: I do not like pizza.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
